Masahiro Sakurai

Masahiro Sakurai (Japanese: 桜井政博, Sakurai Masahiro) (born on August 3, 1970 in Tokyo, Japan) is a game concept designer, the creative force behind both the Kirby and the Super Smash Bros. series on Nintendo platforms. He is also the author of a weekly column for Famitsu magazine.

Sakurai resigned from his position at HAL Laboratory on August 5, 2003. His resignation came just days after an interview where he openly criticized Nintendo for circumstances surrounding the development of the GameCube racing game, Kirby Air Ride, which was the last Kirby title he would develop. This lead many to believe that the Kirby and the Super Smash Bros. series would end, though he has publicly stated that he wishes HAL to continue working on the Kirby series. He is still working on the Super Smash Bros. series to date.

It is known that Masahiro Sakurai has no resentment towards his past at HAL Laboratory, or his old characters. To this day, Sakurai's signature is a Kirby face.

Masahiro Sakurai is currently living in an apartment in Tokyo, close to the studio in which Super Smash Bros. Brawl was developed. Sakurai's apartment is home to a number of pet cats as well, whom he is fond of.